AUBURN, Maine — Police are investigating a workplace fatality at American Concrete Industries on outer Minot Avenue on Friday.
At around 3:30 p.m., Auburn police and fire units responded to a report of a worker at that facility who had been struck by a large piece of concrete, according to a news release from the Auburn Police Department.
Authorities confirmed the death of the worker, David Brooks, 60, of Auburn. Brooks had been stacking concrete blocks on a vehicle for transport, according to Auburn police.
As of Friday evening, police were continuing to investigate the fatality. They were being assisted in the investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
A man who is able to stack concrete blocks should not be referred to as – “the elderly.” These work place accidents can happen to someone of any age at any time. We all know 80 year old people that can outwork 55 year old folks. Elderly is not an age, it’s different for everyone. I doubt that American Concrete had a worker handling blocks that was not fit to do so. God bless this man and his family.
OK, point made. My question remains though. Are we seeing more fatalities at small businesses these days?
There may in fact be more fatalities-I don’t know the figures. Some companies may have eliminated the safety officer position during hard times to save money or given those duties to someone already pressed too hard. You are right-We do have more workers that are older than 55 in the work place for a number of reasons: When cuts are made by seniority the older worker does often have to do the manual labor that the younger guys were handling. Most people can’t afford to retire unless they have a fixed pension-401k accounts have proven to be a scam. This will probably get worse as more and more hang on working well into their seventies-then we can call those workers elderly.
No worries….Obamacare will be pushing the elderly clingers out of the picture soon enough
When the elderly can’t pay the rent or buy food they may not care that much about healthcare. What do you have to live for at that point? We have whole generation of retiree coming with no pension, empty 401ks and no savings. 80 year olds will be working until they drop.
I think he’s probably talking about “death panels” knowing jack’s style.
A man is dead and you want to bring politics into this. Grow up.
I agree with you on this one Kevin.. Right on. There seems to be many people on here that bring politics into every story.
I am so sorry for the loss of this man. My heart goes out to his family and friends…
When did the word “elderly” become something bad? I look at some of the comments here and it is as though calling someone elderly is the same as calling them old, dotard and useless. That isn’t what elderly means to me. When I think of someone as elderly I think of them has having the wisdom of having lived for years. Not as being dotard and useless. I understand that Jay Wag is emotionally upset but really he is taking out his anger on someone who didn’t say anything wrong, unless calling someone elderly is wrong. What’s more, I find it incredibly biased that the BDN moderator chose to remove watchdogs comment because he used the word “elderly” and yet jay wag can use the word jackass and still remains posted here. WTF!!!!
HEY JACKASS…my uncle was many things, ELDERLY not being one of them…this guy worked more than your average 30 year old…and knowing him, he probably put himself in dangers way so the youner fellas could go home to their families….DAVE BROOKS WE LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU…..and i guarentee he would work circles around you mr. lame watch dog
So sorry for your loss. Condolences to his family and friends.
So sorry for the loss. It sounds like he was one heck of a nice guy. May he rest in peace.
Obviously you are emotionally distressed. I don’t blame you at all. I meant no offense by calling your uncle elderly. To me, elderly isn’t a bad thing to call someone. I am also 60 years old and yes, your uncle could probably work circles around me. My point was more that the economic situation today puts people in difficult situations that even someone in their physical prime might have a hard time dealing with. The consequence is that more people are being hurt doing these jobs. Just a few weeks ago an older woman was killed working in a potato house up in the county. Was it her age behind the unfortunate accident? I don’t know, you don’t know, no one knows. The thing is, the economy is so bad that people end up doing jobs that perhaps they shouldn’t be doing. I’m not saying this is the situation with your uncle. What I was trying to say by asking the question that I asked is, what is the cost of the current economic malaise? You may well disagree with my opinion, that is OK I won’t call you the name you called me, but I think the people who are older, that must still work hazardous jobs, ought to blame the GOP and their pro-business attitude that ruined our economy during the Bush years. That is what my comment was alluding to. It wasn’t any kind of negative statement about your uncle, obviously a fine man. It was a negative statement about the economic situation that put him in that job to begin with.
OK, we get it. You don’t like Republicans. But the next time you want to make a political statement, take it somewhere else, not to an article about a workplace fatality.
now you’re blaming the GOP??! What the ….
I am 59 years old and a Republican. I certainly will not consider myself “elderly” when I turn 60 next year. But I will still consider myself a Republican and proud of it. No I am not a so called 1%er. However, I consider myself rich because I have worked for what I have. I have worked since I was in high school. Never been on unemployment or
received government handouts. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Brooks family. It sounds like he was a hard working man.
Right on ,Jay !
Why must people always have to point the finger at someone? It is called an accident, not a ‘your fault’. Just leave it alone. My heart goes out to the family for the tragic accident.
All of you people that mention even a smiggen of politics on this thread should be ashamed of yourselves. When this happens to one of your own, you better very well remember what you have said today.
Never knew this man but from dealing with people of all ages over the years, I can bet that this man was twice the worker that people 1/2 his age are. condolenced to his friends and family. Nothing more needs to be said on here